Jaborian McKenzie, the fourth defendant in the Vandy rape case, appears in court with attorney Jodie Bell in Nashville on Monday, May 21, 2018. He accepted a plead guilty to facilitation of aggravated rape. Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

After nearly five years, the final defendant in the rape case against four former Vanderbilt University football players stepped forward Monday and took responsibility for what he did.

Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie, who testified against his three co-defendants, accepted a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to facilitation of the aggravated rape of an unconscious female student, closing a case that shook the community and challenged one of its bedrock institutions.

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Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie, who cooperated with prosecutors and testified against his three co-defendants, accepted a plea deal on Monday and pleaded guilty to facilitation of aggravated rape.
The Tennessean

Prosecutors hope his guilty plea will bring peace to the young woman who has testified four times about the rape, each time identifying herself in pictures and videos of the brutal assault.

McKenzie, who is now 23, will serve 10 years of probation for his role in the crime. He also will register as a sex offender, a label he will carry for life.

McKenzie's three co-defendants — Vandenburg, 24; Cory Batey, 24; and Brandon Banks, 24 — have all been convicted of aggravated rape and are serving time in Tennessee prisons. The verdicts followed a 2015 mistrial against Vandenburg and Batey.

After the final trial against Banks wrapped in June 2017, prosecutors began "lengthy discussions" with McKenzie and his attorney Jodie Bell that led to Monday's deal, Moore said.

McKenzie's three co-defendants all have appeals pending, but he will not be able to appeal the decision. And his deal bars him from discussing the case in any public forum during his 10-year probation.

McKenzie's role as a key witness for the state figured into his deal

McKenzie came to prosecutors and police in 2013 before charges were filed in the case. His cooperation as a key witness in four trials "merited significant consideration," Moore said.

"In any case, cooperation is something that is going to be taken into consideration," Moore said. "His cooperation spanned literally almost five years."

The victim, who had attended the trials against McKenzie's co-defendants, was not in the courtroom Monday. But Norman said prosecutors had kept her informed throughout the case.

"We've talked to her about everything that has occurred in this case from the beginning," Norman said. "She has been supportive of the prosecution of this case."

An attorney who represents the woman declined to comment Monday. The USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee generally does not name victims of sexual assault.

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In 2013, an unconscious woman was gang-raped in a Vanderbilt dorm. Since then, three men have been convicted and sentenced. Another will have a hearing Monday.
Karen Grigsby, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

After the plea, prosecutor says, 'the victim in this case can get some peace'

The rape case became a lightning rod in the conversation about sexual assault on college campuses. It drew international attention and transformed Vanderbilt's approach to campus assaults, with the university rolling out new training and resources around the issue.

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In a statement, Vanderbilt praised the victim, a student who has since graduated from the university.

"She has shown incredible strength and courage, and we are grateful that she will be spared the burden of testifying at another trial," the statement read. "As a university community, we continue to build upon our efforts to combat sexual violence and are deeply committed to ensuring the safety of our campus. Sexual violence will never be tolerated at Vanderbilt – we will continue to investigate incidents, support victims and hold perpetrators accountable."

Norman said she was hopeful Monday's hearing could close an arduous and painful chapter in the victim's life.

"The victim in this case can get some peace," Jan Norman said. "It's been almost five entire years, and for her to have that moment of this ending and this not being something that is talked about in the public on a regular basis, she absolutely deserves that."

Norman said the victim's resilience during the grueling crawl to justice was a motivating force for prosecutors.

"I take hope and strength in her strength because she has been so amazing through this process, and I don't think that another person would be able to get through this process the way that she has," Norman said.

"She really is a truly remarkable woman."

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and atamburin@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tamburintweets.